Centre has cleared the aerodrome licence required to start commercial operations at Bhogapuram Airport, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said after inspections. He said the clearance followed multiple inspections and reviews of construction work over the past month that confirmed all aspects had been verified. The decision was presented as reflecting the Centre's commitment to good governance and to the state's development.\n\nArrangements are being made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the airport in July, and the chief minister has written to the prime minister seeking confirmation of the schedule. The union minister indicated that operations at Visakhapatnam airport would be transitioned to Bhogapuram within a week of the inauguration. He inspected progress on July 7 and noted that accelerated work meant the project was on track to be completed ahead of schedule, within two years.\n\nThe terminal, covering 78,000 square feet, has been designed to resemble a flying fish, reflecting the local coastal culture, and its interiors are planned to showcase the arts, traditions and heritage of Uttarandhra. The minister conveyed confidence that the facility would become one of the best airports in the country. The airport is designed to accommodate six million (six mn) passengers annually, which would double the current capacity of Visakhapatnam airport.\n\nThe master plan allows phased expansion to serve 40 mn passengers eventually, and the minister drew a parallel with Shamshabad airport, which replaced Begumpet and now supports 300,000 jobs, to underscore aviation's potential to catalyse growth in other industries. Road connectivity has been strengthened with several routes widened, and the highways ministry has approved a six-lane coastal corridor linking Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram, with construction set to begin soon. Plans include a maintenance, repair and operations facility and an Educity to train local youth for employment.